Garden Room Cafe in Derbyshire Dales

We didn’t stay because the cafe is definitely not dog friendly, only the outdoor terrace which was too cold to eat there. Other garden centres have a friendly area inside for dogs, they should review there policies

Breakfast looked fantastic and the price was not bad. The service at best was poor with only one member of staff serving the breakfast and then sorting out the payment. I questioned the temperature of the food at which point the member of staff assured me that it had just come out of the kitchen from being cooked, fantastic I thought. The member of staff seemed a little offended by my question about the food. Sadly what looked a fantastic breakfast was in fact cold 🥶 My advice would be ask them to put it in the microwave as I did, then stand back and wait for the un-professional response from the member of staff. We walked to our table an ate our cold breakfast and left, never to return. Such a shame ☹️

Ordered a jacket potato, stone cold, small amount of toppings but the plates were so tiny it was impossible to eat without it spilling everywhere! I was tired and hungry and needed to eat so I didn’t complain at the time however I will not be back!

I very much enjoyed the sandwiches, savories and the scone. The cakes whilst I thought looked delightful were rather bland. The service was on the poor side, very good at first but I had to get up and chase someone down to get additional milk and a tea refill as once the food was brought out no one came to check if we needed anything extra. All in all just average.

Long while since we came... pleased we did Had paninis... both very tasty.. good portion size Side portion of CHUNKY chips delightful

I can’t believe I’m actually having to write this to make people aware of the shocking experience I went through at fairways garden center in Ashbourne. First of all, I brought a water feature from the garden centre. Got back home and put it up to realise there’s a clear fault with this item. It kept turning itself on and off and wouldn’t work to how it should. I phoned the garden centre who was going to send me another electrical lead out. They then decided they wouldn’t as they can’t find one. I was then told I had to drive over 30 miles away to bring this item back despite me having the evidence on videos of this item not working. I also had kept the receipt too but they still wanted me to pay more money out on an item that is faulty. I’m honestly disgusted in the service I have received and will be taking this higher!

Our group of ladies had a wonderful afternoon tea today at Fairways. We had exclusive use of the Glasshouse, and our table for 18 was beautifully laid up. We had a delicious array of sandwiches, quiche, sausage rolls, scones and cakes. Service was excellent, with constant refills of tea and coffee. We took the leftovers home in boxes. Many thanks to the staff for their warm welcome, attentive service and delicious food.

Lovely staff great service first rate food lots on parking even for my motor home we are going back next time we are in the area.

Yes that’s correct we stayed the day there the day today. What a fabulous place, from the moment you enter everyone is so lovely, that’s without all the fabulous goodies to buy and then the wonderful catering. We had elevenses, a lovely Sunday roast and then fabulous cakes. What could be better a lovey day with special friends.

Firstly, plenty of parking which is always a bonus when you drive out to somewhere! Stop and look at the views over the countryside from the carpark, they are so beautiful and relaxing. Lovely large homewares store, beautiful items with a lovely aesthetic at very reasonable prices. The indoor garden centre is lovely with everything from pruners to gardening shoes, to candles to teapots! The frozen food section should not be missed, WOW, the items in those freezers are so delicious. Very well kept plants for sale, everything displayed nicely and looked in very healthy condition even at the beginning of March, which is obviously a little out of season for gardening supplies, or it is in my garden! Last but not least, sunday carvery lunch in the restaurant is VERY highly recommended. The food quality is great, lovely slices of meat and perfectly cooked vegatables. The tables and chairs are kept clean (no sticky messes as you sometimes find) and there are high medium and low seating options to suit your mood, agility or just seating preference.

The actual garden although expensive is very nice.....but oh dear the cafe the food is so bland and boring I had cottage pie with carrots ..peas and chips pretty tasteless my wife had pasta bake with the same . My coffee was tepid, to say the least it wants a chef with some imagination..and why can't they put a dog friendly area near the outside balcony why should dog owners have to freeze to death when their is loads of room inside . This catering side of the garden centre needs a re think and until it does a definitely won't be eating in there again their are better places to eat in the area.

We were taken to the garden centre by friends who were kind enough to treat us to a snack. The hot chocolate was excellent - as were the scones. A very spacious and airy facility with a great atmosphere. All age ranges catered for. Great access - including a lift to the first floor which accommodates the restaurant. Great food and drinks served by helpful and friendly staff.

We stopped in here for a tea break after a walk in the Dove valley. The latte was good and the "scone of the month" was cherry - very light and tasty.

If you average under 60, have a full set of dentures, and don't feel the need to poke your tongue out to assist that the fork reaches your mouth in one clean thrust, Fairways Garden Room Cafe probably isn't for you.The food served is so soft and overcooked, they might as well offer straws with the cutlery. So concerned that their residents – sorry customers, don’t accidently choke on a bit of pastry, they sell scoops of pie filling without a crust and have the nerve to call it 'pie of the day'. No, that's not a pie - that's just pie filling… £8.99 you say?...Beware before you take a seat. Make absolutely sure none of the old 'dears' have bagsied the only table available with a walking stick whilst they go off and queue in line. Any attempt to do so and you'll be pounced on with scorn by every geriatric within earshot and shunned onto one of the tables strewn with uncollected food waste.Beware of standing out. Walking in looking colourful or vibrant or otherwise ‘different’ only confuses the poor sods and gives them something to stare at whilst sucking on their quiche.Only missing are the men in white coats and the familiar call from Sister Agnus for "medication time...”.You have been warned. Straws optional but essential.

We were staying in the vicinity and were recommended to this cafe for breakfast. What a find. The breakfast was delicious and generous and reasonably priced. Looking at the other menu we will definitely try other meals when next in the area.The staff were pleasant and friendly. The surroundings were lovely with a terrace for warm days. After a lovely meal we also enjoyed looking round the garden centre.

I was amazed at the latest comments I read on here. We went for lunch yesterday, and were so impressed I felt I needed to write a good review, only to find low ratings. We have occasionally enjoyed the coffee and cakes/scones before, but this was the first time we sampled the hot food, and were greatly impressed. The meat in the beef bourgignone and lamb hotpot was plentiful, tasty and tender, and we were able to select our own helpings of freshly prepared, hot, vegetables. As to service, the staff were welcoming and obliging, going out of their way to go to the assistance of a disabled lady struggling with her trolley, and encouraging a toddler to respond to her mother’s attempts to comply. We will return!

Went here for breakfast and was very disappointed. We have been fairly regularly since Fairways opened and have always enjoyed the food. This time we were greeted by a young lady with long blond hair who was very ignorant, serving an overpriced breakfast that was hardly edible, and finished off at the till with Rita who was tutting and clearly didn't want to be at work this day. We will not risk visiting again until we hear changes have been made.

We went for breakfast last weekend only to find a very limited variety. 2 members of staff were very condescending and made us feel unwelcome - 1 of them tutting while we were deciding what to get for you children's breakfast. The other spoke to my mother in law as though she were a child! A different member of staff was lovely and helpful though - which made up a tiny bit for the other 2 staff behaviour. Food was average and expensive too.Very disappointed to say the least - we have been coming here for years, and it has always been a fab day out. Yet we will not be recommending this place for breakfast and we will not be going to the Garden Room for a while whilst those ignorant staff are still working there.

This is our spot to stop off for lunch each time we visit the Derbyshire Dales and it never disappoints. Its a family run business and they always have a vast selection of food (both hot & cold) to choose from. They also cater well for young children whereby you can pick and mix your lunch items into a planting tray, and you also get a pack of seeds, which we thought was a really nice touch. If you have a sweet tooth the homemade cakes and scones always look tempting!

Called early PM on a Saturday....fairly busy.....after a look round the Garden centre ....our purchases safely stowed in the Boot ....we opt for a light Lunch

We came for a visit with a leaflet received in the post, it had vouchers for money off things and one for afternoon tea. I ordered an afternoon but what I got was cream

It's a great place to stop for a coffee/tea break. Drinks are good and there's lots of choice for cakes. They often have a special scone variety too. All good stuff! One section does full means but we've not tried that.

Called today for a Christmas lunch. Normally the later you leave going the more things run out on the menu. It opens at 12.00 so we got there at 12.25. There was no turkey at all. Gammon joint would be another 20 minutes. Staff were very friendly and apologetic. What we had was ok and hot it was not what we wanted. Very disappointing. Will go again but not expect too much. L

Good menu of snacks and food, good choice of drinks. Plenty of searing options including outside where there stunning views over the Derbyshire countryside

We called to look at the Xmas selection in the garden centre and a tea break,

The cafe offers very distinctive areas to eat and always clean and welcoming. A good choice of food at the hot counter always piping hot. The coffee area offers a good choice of rich cakes and scones.

Reasonable selection of cakes. Coffee and hot chocolate were OK. We were surrounded by other customers having what looked like a range of home cooked lunches. We will be back.

Nice setting for a cafe upstairs ( there is a lift) and lovely views of Ashbourne. We had two pots of tea - choice of loose leaf / teabag we chose loose leaf which came in a cute infusion type teapot only one teeny pot of milk given between two teapots ! Had to ask for more.. hubby had bottled Coca Cola ice cold. We had two lovely poppy seed and lemon scones massive and delicious. Only downfall was the very slow service despite no queue perhaps more staff needed at weekends. Definitely call again.!

Unlike the vast majority of Derbyshire Garden Centre's I am amazed that the Garden Centre is not dog friendly - let alone having a outside area wher we can sit and enjoy a coffee after the walk from Ashbourne town centre. However this is just the tip of the ice berg - the staff need a lesson in customer service when dealing with a non-compliance to the Corporate Anti Dog Policy.... I will never return

We have visited this centre many times and have had a very average experience overall, but this time, the whole of the main sitting area was cordoned off mid-afternoon! There was no notice explaining why, so we could only think that the staff were wanting to clean without the inconvenience of customers... Most customers who stayed were squashed into a corner, away from the main sitting area. The queue to be served built up with only one or two staff serving while the rest of the staff seemed to be wandering about in the main area, doing nothing much. If they don't want us, why don't they put up a sign saying so?

Upon first arrival, the Garden Room Café looks welcoming and a nice place to eat. We stopped off for breakfast, which was an absolute waste of money. Whilst the surroundings were lovely, the food was horrible. Dried out bacon, sausages, mushrooms, beans, crispy black pudding ..... everything we had was horrible. We were so disappointed in having been served a meal that was clearly past its best. The staff didn't seem to care what they plonked on the plates, no enthusiasm, or pride in the job. Next time, we will eat in Ashbourne, which is a real shame.

It's a good garden centre with lots of healthy plants. What is also good is the cafe. Reasonably priced, and a scone of the month special. This month Rhubarb and Ginger. I wonder what next month will bring? :-)

Took a party of 45 people for lunch after visiting a local church in Longford.Food and service was excellent. Also the rest of the garden centre has plenty to offer with very good prices.

We had some vouchers posted through our letterbox for 50% off any plant and tea & cake for £2.99 so we decided to visit Fairways one sunny Sunday morning and see what it was like. The garden center itself is lovely, set on a hill above Ashbourne. We walked onto the grass in front of the car park and admired the view whilst we waited for my Mum and her partner to join us. When they arrived we had a quick look around the outdoor section first to see which plant we would like to get the 50% off. There were some pretty displays with great ideas for garden planters, vegetable patches and paint colour ideas.

We stopped here for coffee and toasted teacakes to break a journey, having been once before. The upstairs view from a window seat is better than most garden centre cafes and the staff are cheerful and efficient. Coffee and teacakes were good although an extra pat of butter would have been useful.

Stopped off for a break on a long drive. The pork was great and the veggies fine. The hot chocolate was wonderful. The staff were helpful and chatty. Great break. The only drawback, portion control in the form of small dinner plates.

This garden centre is always nice to visit. The Christmas decorations are good and they have some unusual gifts the clothing area is now much bigger and has interesting clothes The coffee shop is nice and the scones good. The cafeteria provides a breakfast .lunches .and afternoon tea we have always enjoyed what we have had it's been hot and tasty and good value the staff are pleasent and helpful the mince pies are are delicious with a morning coffee

Visited this garden centre café at 9.30 ish on a Monday morning in September - its part of Fairways Garden Centre just off the A515 a couple of miles out of Ashbourne.

Nice food in a pleasant environment and just what you need when you've stacked your trolley with plants and bulbs. Its not a place you'd visit specially - it is after all a garden centre restaurant. But the food was tasty and the people were very helpful. A most enjoyable lunch

Two friends and I met at this garden centre for a spot of lunch and a catch up. I had previously been here and the food was ok.

This cafe situated in the large garden centre has good food. However, I was expecting a bit more authentic farm style setup and food. Cakes galore and a selection of hot food. The cream teas where a let down. Tea, weak, no tea bag, no hot water to alter the strength of the yea, the scone tasty though but the jam not local and in a sealed jar, the clotted crean not local and served in a plastic sealed tub, it missed the all out farm feel. It is large and nice color schemes and visibly popular. Good for a bite though.